Collapsible chair.



No. 806,369; PATB-NTED DEC. 5, 1905.

, 1). SGHUSTEK & H. L. ANDREWS.

V GOLLAPSIBLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1902 2 snnmsysnnm 1.

No. 806,369. Y PATENTED DEG.5,1905.'

D. SOHUSTEK & H. L. ANDREWS.

GOLLAPSIBLB GHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\ Fey- UNITED STATES PATENT onrion.

DANIEL SOHUSTEK AND HERBERT L. ANDREWS,- o CHICAGO, ILLINIOS; SAIDSOHUSTEK ASSIGNOR TO SAID ANDREWS.

COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 19oz.

Application filed May 17.1902. Serial No. 107,744. 7

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANIEL SOHUSTEK and HERBERT L. ANDREWS, residentsof Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful I'mprovements in CollapsibleChairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in 5 chairs, and refers morespecifically to improvements in chairs of that type which are madeprincipally of rod metal or wire, I

The objects of the present invention are to provide a construction whichis when assem.-

to provide a construction which lends itself to economical constructionand assemblement and which when assembled presents a neat and gracefulappearance.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the appended .the backmembersdetached. Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2, but showing the legsattached and arranged in collapsed form. Fig. 5 is a plan view of theleg-brace frame; and Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, are details of the jointconnections.

Referring to said drawings, 11 designates as a whole the seat member,which is circular and comprises a circular rim 12 of angular form incross-section, as best indicated in Fig. 8, and a seat-board 13, whichis conveniently constructed of wood and is formed to fit within theangular rim 12. Atintervals around the depending flange portion of therim 12 are secured a plurality of metal clips 14, the

Fig. 2 is a principal function of which is to provide at tachments forthe leg and back members; but in the present instance these clips arealso made to perform the function of holding the seat-body 13 within therim. To this end said .clip members are secured upon the interior of therim by means of through-bolts 15, and their upper end surfaces areshaped to provide faces 1 1, which engage thelower surface of theperipheral portions of the seat-piece and hold the latter clampedagainst the horizontal or inturned part of the rim.

The construction of the several clips and the leg members 16 is suchthat the latter have pivotal connection with the seat-body and arecapable of being-folded into a collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 4.,To this end each leg member is formed of a single piece of rod or wiremetal bent upon itself centrally of its length and twisted togetherthroughout approximately one-half of the length of the leg, so as toform'a terminal loop 17 of oval shape, a closely-twisted lower legportion 18, and divergent upper leg portions 19 and 19', which latterare respectively connected with a pair of the clips 14. In order toprovide for the pivotal connection of the leg with the clips, themembers 19 and 19 of each leg terminate in outturned pivot members 20,which outturned portions are approximately in alinement with each other,and these members 20 are engaged with transverseapertures 21, formed inthe respective clips 14:. I

The four legs are spaced equidistant around the periphery of thechair-seat and are each practically symmetrical in form. It wouldfollow, therefore, that if the clips were constructed and locatedprecisely alike the legs would lie diametrically across the under sideof the'seat and would so interfere with each other as to prevent themfrom being folded.

In order to enable the legs to be folded past each other into positionas shown in Fig. 4,. the clips are made precisely alike, but are adaptedto be secured in alternately-reversed relation, the pivot-aperture ofone clip being above the through-bolt or near the upper end of the clip,while the aperture of its fellow of the pair is located near the lowerend of the clip. One of the members 19 or 19 of each.

other to'correspond to the different locations of the pivot-apertures ofthe clips, so that the leg stands plumb when placed in erect position,but when the several legs are folded across the bottom of the seat theywill lie slightly oblique to each other, and thus nest together -or foldpast each other, as in Fig. 4:. By making the clips 14 exactly alike,but reversible, in the manner described, all danger of mistakes inassembling the chair is avoided, as well as the cost of manufacturereduced.

In order to hold the legs in rigid relation to each other when erect, ahorizontal braceframe member 22 is provided, which is also formed of rodwire and is approximately rectangular in shape, as shown in Fig. 5, buthas its angle portions so shaped as to form lugs 23, adapted to extendand fit between the bifurcated portions of the leg members. The peculiarconstruction of the brace-frame 22, whereby the lugs 23 are formed, is afeature of some importance and affords great rigidity when thebrace-frame is connected with the leg members, as will hereinafterappear. In forming the lugs 23 the rod metal is bent upon itself, sothat at each lug one portion of the rod lies vertically above and in thesame vertical plane with the connected portion, the two rods beingarranged to extend substantially parallel with each other throughout thelength of the portions which form the lugs, as shown clearly in planview Fig. 4.

. The object of this construction is to provide lateral faces of greaterwidth for engagement with the embracing portions of the lug members. Thebrace-frame is made of a continuous piece of wire or rod, the two endsof which are brought together at one of the angles of the frame, as at23, one end being formed into a hook and the other end placedlongitudinally between the arms of said hook, so as to lie in the sameplane. In the case of this lug, therefore, the vertical width of the lug23 is equal to three times the diameter of the rod metal.

In order to form a rigid union of the braceframe with the lug members,the latter are so formed as to provide elongated or slot-like openings24 just above the twisted portions 18 of the legs, within which theseveral lug members of the frame 22 are inserted, and in order toprovide a more accurate and rigid connection the said lugs are providedwith lateral indentations 25, semicircular in form and arranged toreceive the engaging portions of the leg. Inasmuch as the rod metal ofwhich the legs are formed is resilient, said parts may be constructed tofit together under tension, and it follows that the legs are united withthe brace-frame very rigidly. Furthermore,

the construction of the brace-frame in which the double portions formingthe lugs are superposed throughout the length of the lugs greatlystifiens the brace-frame against bending in a direction to permitoscillatory move- 5 ments of the legs on their pivotal axes. The meetingends of the brace-frame being substantially concealed by the embracingportions of the leg, the brace-frame has the appearance of being and toall practical intents is continuous.

In order to provide means for detachably connecting the back framemember, the four through-bolts which serve to secure the four clips atthe rear side of the chair are provided with clip-shaped heads 15, eachprovided in its inner face with a groove or recess 15", adapted toreceive and embrace the several arms 27 of the back member, (designatedas a whole 26.) In order that the clip-shaped heads 15 may more securelyengage the arms 27, the grooves or recesses 15 are each providedinteriorly with a transverse lug-like projection 28 of semicircular formin cross-section, and the engaging portion of each arm 27 is providedwith a transverse recess or dent 29, adapted to register with and fitupon the lugs 28, so that when the clip is in clamping engagement withthe arm their separation is impossible.

The construction of the back member 26 is such as to afford both arigidconstruction and a neat graceful appearance. To this end two lengths ofrod metal are twisted together at a pivot intermediate their lengths, asindicated at 30, the ends at one side of said twisted portion beingarranged to diverge outwardly to form the inner or proximate pair ofarms, while the other two ends are each formed into a coil or circularloop, as 31, then carried outwardly to such an extent as to form a backof suitable width,and then extended downwardly, so as to form the outerarms, as indicated clearly in Fig. 3.

The chair may or may not be provided with extra foot-pieces-such,forexam ple, as a cushion-piece or caster the loops 17 themselves formingsuitable foot-pieces, as well also as a means for attaching supplementalfoot-pieces. In the present instance such supplementary foot-pieces 32are shown as fitted within the loops 17 and supporting casters 33.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that a chairembodying the invention may be packed in a most convenient and compactmanner. The back may be detached and laid flat and the brace-framedisengaged by simply loosening the clip-bolts slightly, whereupon thelegs may be forced apart sufficiently to disengage them from the anglesof the brace-frame and the legs then folded down flat upon the lowerside of the seat member, thus enabling all of the members of the chairto be made into a substantially flat package. This is a feature of greatimportance, since it not only lessens the cost of transportation andstorage, but it also lessens the danger of the chair becoming in ured intransportation. It will also be noted that the clips need not bedisengaged from their proper places in order to collapse the chair, butneed only be slightly loosened, so that there is little danger of theirbecoming disengaged and lost. When assembled, the chair is perfectlyrigid and presents a neat and ornamental appearance.

While we have herein described our invention as embodied in a chair, yetit will be obvious that so much of the invention aspertains to thesupporting of a horizontal body, is applicable to other articles offurniture, such as stools, tables, &c. Weaccordingly do not limitourselves to the particular embodiment shown herein.

We claim as our invention- 1. y In a metal chair the combination of aseatbody provided with a peripheral flange member, a plurality ofattaching-clips mounted upon said flange member, a. plurality of legmembers pivotally attached to said clips and adapted to fold flatlyacross each other on the under side of said seat-body, and a detachablebrace-frame for holding said leg members in operative position.v

2. In achair, the combination ofaseat-body a plurality of leg membersformed of twisted wire and each provided with two pivot members or armsarranged to stand at a distance apart, means pivotally connecting saidlegs with the seat member and constructed to permit the legs to foldacross the seat, a detachable brace-frame constructed to hold said legsin rigid relation to the seat and a detachable skeleton back,substantially as described.

3. In a chair, the combination of a circular seat-body, provided with aperipheral depending flange and a series of pairs of clips mounted uponsaid flange at intervals apart, each clip being provided with apivot-aperture, a plurality of leg members, each bifurcated at its upperend and pivotally engaged with a pair of said clips, ahorizontally-extending uninterrupted brace-frame, provided with angularportions which are severally engaged with the respective legs at pointsintermediate with the length of the latter and a skeleton backdetachablyconnected with the seat-body, substantially'as described.

4. In an article of furniture, the combinaof which pivot-apertures arelocated lower or more remote from the lower surface of'the seat-bodythan the others, and leg members provided with pivot-arms at their upperends, engaged with said clips, whereby said legs are capable of foldingacross the seat-body and oscillating aboutan axis inclined to a planeparallel to the plane of the seat-body,

for the purp'oseset forth.

' purpose set forth.

5. In a chair,-the combination of a circular seat-body, provided with aperipheral depending flange and a plurality of pairs of leg-supportingclips secured to said flange at intervals apart, each of said clipsprovided with a transverse pivot-aperture extending tangentially to theperiphery of the seat-body, the aperture of one clip being located aboveor nearer the plane of the seat than that of its fellow clip'of thepair, a series of legs engaged with the respective pairs of clips, eachleg consisting of a length of wire twisted closely together to form thelower portion of the leg,

vergently and terminating in oppositely-extending pivot portions whichare engaged in said clips and means for securing said legs inperpendicular relation to the seat-body, substantially as described.

6. In an article of furniture, the. combination of a body and a legmechanism for supporting said body comprising a plurality of pairs ofoppositely-disposed clips secured to said body, each provided with atransverse pivot-aperture, the pivot-aperture of one clip of each pairbeing located lower or more remote from the plane of the body than theother and the clips of each pair being spaced apart, and leg memberseach provided with a pair of pivot-arms engaged with said clips, wherebysaid legs are pivotally connected with the body to oscillate upon'axesinclined to the plane of the body, and are-adapted to fold past eachother, for the purpose set forth.

' 7. In an article of furniture, the combination with the body, of aplurality of legs pivotally connected with said body, each formed of rodmetal twisted together throughout a part of the length of the leg andprovided with a slot-like opening formed intermediate the length of theleg, and a brace-frame consisting of a single length of rod metal formedinto a continuous ring and having a series of lug-like anglesinterengaged with the-slotlike openings of the several legs, said anglesbeing formed by bending the rod metal abruptly back upon itself and oneportion superposed vertically upon 8. In a chair, the combination withthe seat thereof provided with a flange, of means for detachablyconnecting a rod like member therewith, comprising a. bolt, the head ofwhich is extended at one side and provided therein with a transverselyextending groove, a lug-like projection within said groove and extendingtransversely thereof, a rodlike member provided with atransversely-extending groove adapted to fit the groove within saidhead, with the groove in said rod fitting over the lug-like projection,whereby said rod-like member is held rigidly against lateral androtary'movernent, and a clamp-nut the other as and for the said partsadapted to be sprung into said sock- ALBERT H. GRAVES.

for said bolt, substantially as and for the purets, whereby said legsare held in operative pose described.l 1 position.

9. In an artic eof furniture having eg mernv bers provided withyieldable brace-receiving i i% i 5 sockets, a brace member provided ateach. of

its leg-engaging portions with a reduced neck- Witnesses: like part withshoulders at each end thereof, FREDERICK O. GOODWIN,

